Francisco Maza Luque, Repsol, Spain, takes a look at the innovations that are helping to make Spain the first port of call for LNG bunkering operations.
E
arlier this year, Repsol completed its first LNG bunkering that offset the emissions associated with the vessel’s LNG consumption. The spot operation inaugurated the commercial use of the new Cartagena bunkering facility in Spain and was co-ordinated exclusively by telematic means to enhance safety. The operation confirms Repsol and Spain as an attractive bunkering option. On 5 March 2021, Repsol completed an LNG bunkering operation to the vessel Fure Vinga in the port of Cartagena in eastern Spain. The operation, that supplied 420 m3 of LNG to the Swedish-owned chemical tanker with a length of
150bm and a beam of 23 m, lasted approximately four hours and was performed without incidents or delays. This novel supply of LNG to a ship for use as fuel was carried out at the facilities of Enagas, with the support of the Port Authority of Cartagena and the Maritime Captaincy of Cartagena. The bunkering operation inaugurated the commercial use of the new Cartagena bunkering facility, after the finalisation of recent modifications and a first pilot operation carried out in 2017, thanks to the collaboration between Repsol and Enagas. The combination of the extensive bunkering experience of an operator like Repsol
Figure 1. Chemical tanker Fure Vinga.
29
